Hypocrisy of "The Christian"

It is very interesting to me that so many people have turned away from Christ because of the very people who claim to follow Him.

Nonbelievers --and even some Christians themselves-- often surprisingly point a disgusted finger toward “the Christian” who has sinned.

I think we have to acknowledge two things that may be playing out here.

First, there are indeed people who claim to be Christians who are not.  I’m talking about evil here.  People who commit atrocity and hide behind religion.  We have all seen and read accounts of people in the church committing heinous crimes against others. 

I do not know the hearts of others.  I only know mine.  But I think it is important to remember that Satan is called the Father of Lies for a reason.  His aim is to confuse us, deceive us, accuse us and destroy us.  He has been playing this game for a very long time and frankly, he is good at it.

Second, I must point out that claiming to be a Christian is NOT claiming to be Christ.  Read that again.  We are NOT called to be Christ but to point others toward Him.

It is Christians who publicly and freely admit they are totally lost and broken and messed up and they NEED Christ.  So being a Christian is not claiming perfect behavior but imperfect behavior and the need for a Savior. 

Do Christians behave badly sometimes?  Yes, of course.  There are so many strongholds enslaving people that range in severity.  And as soon as people claim Christ as their savior, Satan starts his attack.  The pressure and the temptations and the “tests” really ramp up.  And as humans, we do not fare so well fighting in the Spiritual realm unless we rely on God. 

 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.- Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

I have had much bigger issues to conquer in my life since actively following Christ.  And it seems like everything goes well and “the sun always shines” on my atheist friend.  Why?  I believe it is because she is not a threat to Satan- but I am.  So if he can destroy me (ie, my faith), that is what He is really after!  How much more satisfying to Satan is to throw the life of a minister into turmoil all the while hurting so many others in the process than to destroy just some lone atheist?  He already has the atheist right where he wants them.

As Christians, we are VICTORIOUS  when we stay alert, PRAY and arm ourselves with salvation, righteousness (which simply means being rightly related or in a good relationship to God and others), truth, peace, the sword of the Spirit (ie, the Word of God) and ultimately, our FAITH, which is what shields us from the fiery arrows Satan is shooting at us.  Read Ephesians 6:10-17.

Yes, we will lose a battle now and then.  But only when we try to fight it alone.  And as a Christian, my precious time here learning to become ONE with God and all of the others here is just a blip on the radar.  My hope is in Heaven- where I have a seat with my name on it up beside my creator, my loving Father.  If you are a Christian and have accepted Jesus into your life as your Savior, so do you!

Following Christ does not mean following Christ’s followers.  Rather, it means keeping your eyes on Jesus.  It is he who leads you to the Father.

This journey is hard.  But the destination is worth it.  We are designed by a creator to crave life to the fullest.  It is what we are made for.  Without it, we are empty and live in constant awareness that there is something more.  Accepting Christ- claiming Christianity- does not mean life will be easy.  It does not mean you will not stumble.  It does not mean you won’t suffer terrible- almost unbearable pain. 

What it does mean is you will not go it alone.  God will lead you through it all to victory- to life- to peace, love and joy- to ONENESS with Him.

Read the account of Jesus and Peter below.  This was just after Jesus had fed over 5000 people with 2 loaves of bread and 5 fish.  Pay particular attention to the fact that Jesus told his friends to TAKE COURAGE.  He didn’t say, “here, let me  give you courage.”  But he told them to TAKE it.  And when Peter challenged Jesus to walk on the water, Jesus did not calm the waves.  Instead, he told him to walk out on top of them- WITH HIM!

Matthew 14:22-32

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”

 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

As a Christian, we have to participate in God’s plan.  We are not meant to sit comfortably by watching the show.  We are a part of it.  But it’s not our show.  If the attention is on US and not HIM, things are going to get messy.

These are likely the times when we simply forget to invite God into our conversations.  When we forget the price he has paid for us.  When we forget the love he feels for us.  When we forget how many times He has already proven Himself faithful to us. 

And when we do sin, all we have to do is take it straight to God.  And His grace and mercy- and the blood of His one and only Son- cover us.

Dear God,

Help me to focus on following YOU.  Help me refrain from doing things that will ruin your reputation of a good and loving Father.  Help me be a light that points back to you. Help me listen more.  Help me love deeper.  Give me constant memories of who I know YOU are.  And finally, help me remember who you made ME to be.